Rio Norte drum line heads to first contest

Rio Norte Junior High School will send its Rio Norte Drum Line to its first competition in Aliso Viejo on March 14.

Formed two years ago under the direction of coach Troy King and advisor Jeff Gilbert, the drum line is the only one fielded by a junior high school in the Santa Clarita Valley.

"This is the first time we have ventured to the competitive level and are looking forward to the experience," Gilbert said. The group will make its competitive debut in the Southern California Percussion Alliance (SCPA) Drum Line competition.

Formed to accommodate the many percussion students that are emerging from local teachers and garage bands, the Drum Line is an after-school performance club meeting twice a week for an hour a day. King has added the corps style to the unit, utilizing his experience with the Santa Clara Vanguards Drum Corps.

The group's five-minute original performance, titled "The Pyramid," was written by King. The piece features snare drum, bass drum, quad toms, cymbals, synthesizer keyboard, keyboard mallets, bass and electric guitars. The line serves 18 of Rio Norte's seventh- and eighth-grade percussion students.